Protease inhibitors, serum endotoxin and serum immunoglobulins following portacaval end-to-side anastomosis in animal experiments
Machraoui, A.; Rasche, B.; Oellig, W.P.; Thiel, H.
Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie 23(3): 130-138
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-2771 PMID: 3909669 Document Number: 245397
In order to clarify the pathophysiological mechanism of certain biochemical and immunological changes (endotoxin in serum, protease inhibitors, immunoglobulins) found in a former study on human cirrhosis of the liver the porto-caval end-to-side anastomosis of rats with unaffected livers was chosen as test model. With the aid of this bypass the "spill-over" phenomenon of the liver can be completely imitated. In this study, 7 operated and 5 or 14 control animals resp. are referred to. Serum endotoxin, acid-stable and acid-unstable protease inhibitors and immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM were determined 20 months after operation. For the determination of potential hemodynamically or toxically induced effects on these organs, morphologic liver and lung examinations were performed. On the average, the operated rats showed a weight loss of 8 percent, i.e. from 378.4 +/- 9.2 g to 348.4 +/- 17 g. Compared to control rats, their relative liver weights were significantly lower (34%) (mean = 2.23 +/- 0.2 compared to 3.4 +/- 0.44 g, p less than 0.0005). Serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM in operated animals were significantly higher (p less than 0.005 or p less than 0.025 resp. and 0.0025). Endotoxin in serum could be identified in 4 out of 7 operated animals (57, 1%), but in none of the control animals. While there was no difference in serum levels of acid-unstable protease inhibitors between the two groups levels of acid-stable protease inhibitors were in operated animals by 24% higher than in control animals (mean = 35.3 +/- 3.3 compared to 28.5 +/- 2.3 mU/ml, p less than 0.0005).